Location: On-site Springfield, MO Office (with ability to support teams across TX, MO, NM, IL, KS, IN and 30+ remote work states) 
Department: Employee Relations, Payroll & Benefits 
Reports To: Executive Director of Employee Relations, Payroll & Benefits 

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a growing, multi-state healthcare organization with more than 8,000 employees. This role oversees a team of five Payroll Specialists and is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll while driving process improvements and supporting cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of five Payroll Specialists.
• Establish workflows, training, quality standards, and accountability.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Scheduling, Clinical Operations, and Employee Relations to support payroll operations.

Payroll Operations

• Oversee multi-state payroll for hourly, salaried, clinical, remote, and specialized employees.
• Validate payroll data from UKG, seven EMRs, timekeeping, and scheduling systems.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, overtime, shift differentials, on-call pay, bonuses, mileage, multi-rate pay, and state-specific regulations.
• Manage payroll taxes, garnishments, benefit deductions, year-end reporting, audits, and payroll controls.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Serve as the payroll lead for UKG and partner with HRIS to resolve issues and improve workflows.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation, and efficiencies.
• Support system upgrades and integrations between UKG and other payroll-related systems.

Compliance & Audit

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare payroll regulations.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and implementing corrective actions.
• Partner with Employee Relations on complex payroll matters.

Reporting & Stakeholder Support

• Provide payroll reports and data to leadership, Finance, and regulatory agencies.
• Support reimbursement, cost reporting, and compliance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Accounting, Finance, Business, HR, or related field.
• 5+ years of payroll experience with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Multi-state, high-volume payroll experience required; healthcare experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UKG or similar payroll systems (ADP, Workday, Viventium a plus).
• Knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, garnishments, audits, and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and macros.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits
• Medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Supportive, mission-driven culture
• Opportunity to lead payroll operations for a growing healthcare organization